Hay-stacker



(No Model.)

M in %M M WW1 WM P M UNITED STATES JAMES MILLlKIN, or CANAAN, 01 110.

HAY-STACKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,685, dated August11, 1896.

' Application filed March 9, 1896. berial No. 582,505. (No 'niodel.)

T0 coil whom it 7171/14] con/corn.-

Be it known that I, JAMES MILLIKIN, a citizen of the United States,residing inCanaan township, near VVestJ efferson, in the county ofMadison and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Hay- Stackers; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full,.clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved hay-stacker wherebyit may be of simple, durable, and economical construction,'and may beconveniently moved about from place to place.

My invention comprises the combination with a sled or other portablebase of a derrick having a jib pivoted and fulcrumed to its upper partby a universal joint, a pivoted brace-rod for the hay-supporting arm ofthe jib, a rope and pulleys by which the jib and hay-fork may be drawninto position for placing the hay onto a stack, and a weight connectedwith the other arm of the jib for counterbalancing the load andcounteracting the strain on the hay-supporting arm and brace-rod duringthe horizontal movement of the load, and also for automaticallyreturning the arm to the position for taking more hay.

The drawing annexed hereto illustrates an embodiment of my improvementsin perspec tive view.

The base of the apparatus is a sled composed of runners A, connected bysuitable cross-pieces B, one of which, B", is made heavier or strongerthan the others to receive and sustain the derrick M, standingperpendicularly from the sled. The derrick may be braced by rods 0 0,extending thence to the front of the sled. The jib G is connected to thecross-head at the top of the derrick by means of a universal joint ofanysuitable construction, so as to swing horizontally and also befulcrumed vertically. That shown consists of two connected eye bolts,one of which is secured in the jib and the other of which is passedthrough a hole in the crosshead, the hole being made of sufiicientlylarge diameter to permit the easy oscillation of the bolt. The jib ispivoted to the crosshead of the derrick, so that the longer partlstances.

extends out beyond the rear end of the sled,

and it is there braced by a rod H, which is hinged at its upper end tothe jib by means of a removable bolt passed through a fork on thebrace-rod and one of a series of holes in freely in a lateral orhorizontal direction. A

series of holes is made in the jib, so that the altitude of its end maybe varied by changing the place of its connection with the brace-rod.

Over the front .part of the sled I erect a frame composed of thehorizontal beam D, secured to the derrick, and a beam E, secured to beamD, at right angles thereto, the beam E being supported by a verticalpost F, sustaining an inclined bar N. Connected with the short end ofthe jib is a cord 0, which runs over a pulley P on the beam E, and hasfastened to its lower end a box L to receive weights, which may bevaried to suit circum- The cord is made sufficiently short to allow theweight to throw the long arm of the jib to one side of the sled. PulleysR. R R are secured to the long arm of the jib, the brace -rod, and thesled, respectively, as shown, and through these is passed a cord S, oneend of which is fastened to a hay-fork T and the other to a whiffletreeU. A stop J of any suitable kind is provided in the cord or rope S. Thatshown consists of a link and pin, the pin being passed through a loop ofthe cord, passed through the link, and drawn tight.

The operation is as follows: The sled is drawn to the place where thehay is to be stacked and ahorse hitched to the whiflietree. When thehorse is driven in the proper direction, a bunch of hay in the fork iselevated until the stop J strikes the pulley on the jib, when the latteris drawn around to the place where the stack is to be formed. When thejib is swung around, the weight is lifted and thus counterbalances theload and at the same time relieves the strain upon the brace-rod H andits lower pivoted bearing; and upon back- ICO ing the horse the jib isautomatically returned by the weight to its first position, and uponfurther backing of the horse the fork by its own weight drops to theposition for taking more hay. The form of stop J shown may be adjustedon the cord to secure any desired height of the hay-fork.

In order conveniently to get at the upper end of the jib for adjustingits brace or for stringing the pulleys, the lower end of the brace-rod Hmay be released by removing the bolt and the eye K, set upon a pin V atthe forward end of the sled. This device will also be convenient forlowering the upper end of the jib, so that it may be put into a shed orbarn with a low roof.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting. myself to the details ofconstruction or the proportions of parts shown in the accompanyingdrawings, as they may be changed without departing from the scope of myinvention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a hay-stacker, the combination of a sled or other base, a derrick,a jib pivoted to. swing horizontally and fulcrumed vertically on thederrick, a brace-rod connected to the hay-supporting arm of the jib andpivoted in about the same vertical line with the fulcrum of the jib soas to swing horizontally therewith, a rope and pulleys to carry ahay-fork and to move the jib into position for depositing hay, and aweight connected with the other arm of the jib so as to counterbalancethe load and thereby relieve the strain upon the hay-supporting arm andbrace-rod during the horizontal movement of the load and toautomatically return the jib to the position for taking hay,substantially as described.

2. In a hay-stacker, the combination of a sled or other base, a derrick,a jib pivoted to swing horizontally and fulcrumed vertically on thederrick, a brace-rod adj ustably secured to the hay-supporting arm ofthe jib and removably pivoted to the base by means of a bolt and eye K,and a pin V to be engaged by the eye when removed from the bolt,substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES MILLIKIN.

Witnesses Gno. M. FINcKEL, A. O. MILLIKIN.

